T-Bones set roster for 2019 opener Friday

The Kansas City T-Bones, the defending American Association Champions, have set the club’s 2019 opening night roster in Kansas City, Kansas.

Opening day for the T-Bones is at 7:05 p.m. Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

The T-Bones roster currently stands at 22. The team will feature 12 pitchers, led by 2018 staff ace, right-handed pitcher Tommy Collier from Houston.

Collier will be joined in the rotation by former Arizona Diamondback righty Randall Delgado. Delgado is set to start opening night against Fargo, and Collier will start in game two on Saturday. The third piece of the rotation will be former Kansas City Royal LHP Eric Stout. The left-handed pitche spent part of 2018 with the Royals, working out of the pen.

The rest of the pitching staff features Alaska native RHP Dylan Baker, who will be a member of the starting rotation, and right-handed reliever Jesus Balaguer.

The pen will also feature the return of left-hander Carlos Diaz, who saved nine games before his contract was purchased last season by the Cincinnati Reds organization, and fellow left-hander Nick Lee, who also was a part of the 2018 championship club.

A pair of new faces in former Royals farm hand right-handed pitcher Kevin Lenik and right-handed pitcher Kevin Hamann, who won two NAIA World Series while in college. Right-handed pitcher Marc Magliaro is also a new face to be counted on in the pen. Kansas City native right-handed pitcher Robert Calvano returns as well as right-handed pitcher Jackson Lowery to round out the staff.

At the plate, the T-Bones welcome former Wichita State star and first round draft pick infielder-outfielder Casey Gillaspie.

The club also features several players with Major League time, including Daniel Robertson, Darnell Sweeney and Shawn O’Malley. All three players played in the outfield and infield during spring training.

Carlos Franco, who hit 33 home runs in the Braves system the last two years combined, will also be a part of the ball club, playing first base.

Infielder Mason Davis, a big-time clutch performer for Kansas City last season, is set to return. Davis was always a threat to steal a base while being equally likely to go deep in 2018.

Outfielder Forrest Allday comes to the T-Bones out of the San Diego Padres organization, and infielder Mikey Reynolds comes over from the Can-Am League this season.

The T-Bones two catchers are Christian Correa, who spent parts of two seasons with Kansas City, and newcomer Roy Morales out of the Miami Marlins organization.

To get to the league-mandated number, the T-Bones placed infielder Ryan Brett and right-handed pitcher Dustin Hurlbutt on the disabled list, released infielder Nick Basto, and traded right-handed pitcher Corey Walter to York in the Atlantic League.

Opening day for the T-Bones is set for Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium. The T-Bones play host to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to open the 2019 season. The entire 100-game schedule can be heard on the T-Bones Broadcast Network online at tbonesbaseball.com/ T-&Bones MixLR Channel .

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale.